HOUSTON - The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today it has sued a Houston diagnostics management company and its related companies for firing an employee after learning she was pregnant.

According to the EEOC's lawsuit, (Civil Action No 4:09-cv-03146), filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, Advanced Diagnostics Management, L.L.P. and its related companies unlawfully forced Mary Garcia to take leave and then subsequently discharged her from her job because she was pregnant.

Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which makes it illegal to treat an employee less favorably based on her pregnancy. Prior to filing the lawsuit, the EEOC attempted to reach a voluntary settlement with Advanced Diagnostics Management. The EEOC is seeking a permanent injunction prohibiting the company from engaging in any type of sex discrimination, as well as back pay, reinstatement or front pay, compensatory damages and punitive damages.

"When a woman is capable of performing her job, she should not be discriminated against because she is pregnant," said R.J. Ruff, Jr., director of the agency's Houston District Office. "We are taking a stand and letting employers know that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated."

EEOC Regional Attorney Jim Sacher said, "Ms. Garcia has been treated differently because of her pregnancy and as a result her rights as an employee have been violated. The EEOC is seeking to have Advanced Diagnostics Management’s policy corrected so pregnant women in the future will not be subjected to this kind of unlawful treatment."